St Cuthbert is regarded as the patron Saint of Northern England. His story has been told by many, including the Anglo-Saxon scholar and Saint the Venerable Bede and, most recently, by renowned Durham born writer Benjamin Myers in his novel Cuddy.

Follow a historic guided walk through County Durham by audio. Lead by Ruth Robson, the route follows the waymarked trail from Chester-le-Street to Durham City, known as Cuddy’s Corse and is symbolic of the journey made by the Community of St Cuthbert from Lindisfarne to Durham as they sought refuge from 8th and 9th century Viking raids. They fled Lindisfarne in 875AD carrying the body of St Cuthbert and their most treasured possessions – including the Lindisfarne Gospels, created in honour of St Cuthbert. The community lived in Chester-le-Street for over a century before moving to Durham and settling on the site of what is now the magnificent Durham Cathedral. This walk tells the story of St Cuthbert through fact and fiction.

Follow the walking route on Google Maps

Read the transcript

Ruth Robson is a North East England & Cumbria Blue Badge Tourist Guide. This audio walk was specially commissioned for Durham Book Festival 2023.